Not a bad speech, I think he should have perhaps emphasised that just because counterinsurgency operations are the dominating sort of engagement for our forces now that they may not be in the near future. This relies on him suggesting a withdrawal from Afghanistan is likely within a couple of years which he could not do and that we are unlikely to be drawn into a counterinsurgency campaign so easily again. He made a subtle argument to counter Gen. Richards claims but I fear he was perhaps a bit too subtle, I doubt Richards will be so measured, especially if he becomes CDS as suspected in the wake of an election. We shall see what next few months bring.